Following Tamil Nadu CM O Panneerselvam's late night bombshell, AIADMK General Secretary VK Sasikala has called an emergency meeting of MLAs at Poes Garden.   

Rubbishing Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam's statement, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam said that all the MLAs opted for Sasikala to be CM.   

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister tonight revealed that he was forced to resign from his post to make way for Sasikala.   

Amid accommodation shortage for MPs, 72 new flats would be constructed for the parliamentarians in the national capital's Lutyens' Zone.

There has been a rise in resignations and applications seeking voluntary retirements from paramilitary forces last year, with BSF and CRPF topping the chart, the Lok Sabha was told today. 

An explosion occurred on the railway track in Bihar's Buxar district just after Varanasi-Sealdah (Upper) India Express has triggered speculation of sabotage.

Superintendent of Railway Police Jitendra Mishra said the blast occurred at a halt near Buxar station yesterday when the train had crossed the spot and moved barely a few metres.

The incident sent security personnel into tizzy as arrest of three persons in East Champaran district in Bihar recently had revealed Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence terror plot to target trains in India.

The hands of ISI agent was suspected in the Indore-Patna Express tragedy on November 20 last year which claimed 150 lives.

However, no damage to life or property was reported in the low intensity blast that could be caused by crackers, Mishra said.

The Upper India Express was stopped and was allowed to proceed only after carrying thorough search by the security personnel, he said.

We are carrying out inquiry. Prima facie it seems to be crackers. We would be able to say something concrete only after Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) officials examine the samples collected and submits the report," Mishra said.

A team has been constituted under Additional SP (Rail) A S Thakur to carry out raids to catch those involved in the blast.

Image for representation only.

UPDATE: At least 12 people have been killed and several injured in a suicide blast outside the Afghan Supreme Court, agency reports said quoting officials.

A suicide bomber targeted the SC, in the centre of Afghanistan's capital Kabul, when the employees were leaving offices after the day's work.

The toll is expected to rise. -- Agencies

Photograph: Omar Sobhani/Reuters

An explosion occurred near the Supreme Court in the centre of Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, on Tuesday, agency reports said, quoting police and witnesses.

An apparent suicide bomber targeted Supreme Court employees leaving their offices at the end of the working day, but the number of casualties was not immediately clear, police at the scene said. -- Agencies

Image for representation only.

Just In: US moves the UN for banning Pathankot attack mastermind and Pak-based JeM chief Masood Azhar; China opposes.

An explosion occurred near the Supreme Court in the centre of Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, on Tuesday, according to witnesses at a nearby government ministry, reports Reuters. Kabul police confirmed that a blast had been heard and they were still working to identify the exact location of it.

In yet another WhatsApp message contradicting reports attributed to Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray that Hardik Patel will be the face of Shiv Sena's chief ministerial candidate in Gujarat Legislative Assembly elections, the Patidar leader Hardik Patel has clarified that he will not join politics unless he succeeds in his mission to get OBC quota reservations for Patels in Gujarat.


The message says: I have said this before and I am reiterating it here. Till the time I don't succeed in getting reservations and justice for the Patidars I will not join any political party or indulge in politicking. And at my age there is no question of fighting an election (He is 23 and the minimum age required to contest assembly and Lok Sabha election is 25). I am meeting people to canvass their support and not to do politics. I have my origins in a humble family. I have come to fight the battle of principles. I have come from a rural, farmer's family. I don't want to be 'CM'; I want to be a 'common man."

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi who is campaigning in Meerut, UP, today hits back at the PM for his snarky remark in Parliament today that an earthquake had finally hit.


Rahul tweeted, "The Prime Minister mocks the tragedy of Uttarakhand and insults the freedom struggle but has no answers to the Opposition's questions. "

OfficeofRG, Rahul's Twitter handle posted a set of questions that he said the PM has not answered.

"What is the amount of black money recovered after 8th November 2016?
What is the economic loss to the nation and number of jobs lost?
How many people who died due to demonetisation have been compensated?
Who did the PM consult on demonetisation?
Why were experts, economists, RBI not consulted?
Who all deposited more than Rs 25 lakh in bank accounts in six months preceding 8th Novmber 2016."


Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched an attack on Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi during his Lok Sabha address today saying Rahul had said that an earthquake would strike if he was given the opportunity to speak. Mocking Gandhi, PM Modi referred to Monday's earthquake that shook north India and said that the quake had finally "hit' the region, months after Gandhi's "threat'." 

In an all-Dalit village in Muzzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, three girls who do mazdoori after finishing the day's chores, will vote for the first time. Opening their home and heart to Rediff.com's Archana Masih they say all they want is a high school, a vehicle to take them to the main road and a sewing machine. Do read.

Also read Archana Masih's report from Saharanpur: 'People don't want to marry their daughters to boys in Western UP'

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said today he was grateful to US President Donald Trump for revealing "the real face of America". "We are thankful to this gentleman... he showed the real face of America," Khamenei said in a speech to military officers in Tehran.


"What we have said for more than 30 years -- that there is political, economic, moral and social corruption in the ruling system of the US -- this gentleman came and brought it out into the open in the election and after the election."


He referred to the case of a young Iranian boy who was pictured in handcuffs at a US airport following Trump's ban on visas for seven Muslim-majority countries, including Iran. "By what he does -- handcuffing a five-year-old child -- he shows the true meaning of American human rights," Khamenei said.

According to a statement submitted by Minister of State for Home, Kiren Rijiju in Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Uttar Pradesh topped the list of incidents of communal violence in 2016.


While 155 incidents of violence were reported in the poll-bound state of Uttar Pradesh in 2015, the number went up to 162 in the following year.


As parties brace for elections in states including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Manipur, the politically crucial state has topped the list while zero incidents were recorded in Manipur and Uttarakhand recorded only eight incidents.


On the other hand, Punjab which also did not witness any communal incident in 2014 and 2015 saw one incident of communal violence in 2016.


However, in other two states which will elect a new government in 2017, namely Goa and Uttarakhand, no such increase has been observed.


In the overall tally of the country, Uttar Pradesh is followed by Maharashtra at second recording 97 incidents, followed by Gujarat at 74.


The fourth and fifth position has been taken by Rajasthan recording 72 and Bihar recording 61 such incidents.

CEC Nasim Zaidi and senior EC officials will visit Lucknow tomorrow to review poll preparedness for upcoming elections UP elections 2017.

Defending champion India continued their winning streak in the ongoing T20 World Cup for the Blind as they clinched their sixth win of the tournament by thrashing New Zealand by nine wickets at the KIIT Stadium, Bhubaneswar, on Tuesday. 

Just In: West Bengal Advocate-General Jayanta Mitra resigns over difference of opinion with the state government.

Just In: The Karnataka high court orders the winding up of United Breweries (Holdings) Ltd in a case relating to recovery of dues from the Vijay Mallya-owned Kingfisher Airlines.

In a first, effective, rapid treatment for deadly Ebola virus using antibodies from horses developed by Australian scientists.


Munching on almonds, pistachios & other nuts may prevent colon cancer, protect against heart disease, diabetes, German scientists claim.

Former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa Jayakumar holding her promised press conference, as a wary Tamil Nadu awaits Sasikala's promotion as the next chief minister.

Deepa said it was a sad day for Tamil Nadu. "People don't want Sasikala as CM. We can't accept her elevation as CM," Deepa said.

She said people of Tamil Nadu did not vote for Sasikala. She said Sasikala led a march after Jaya's death and showed no sign of grief. "People are scared of her, I am not," she said.

Rooting for TN CM O Panneerselvam, Deepa said an elected leader should be CM. "There is instability in Tamil Nadu, people are very much worried," she said.

Deepa has confirmed that she would make her foray into Tamil Nadu politics with "a landmark announcement" on February 24, which happens to be Jayalalithaa's birthday.

Today, she said she has received a lot of support and said while Apollo Hospitals should have spoken earlier, multiple questions on Jayalalithaa's death remain unanswered. She said Apollo's clarifications on Jaya's death are inadequate.

She said that she was never allowed to visit her aunt in hospital. "From day 1 I was asking the hospital to allow me inside but the hospital denied it and they never allowed me, they never got in touch with me," she said.

Apollo Hospitals clarified yesterday that Jayalalithaa gave the go-ahead for visitors and only then did the hospital allow people to meet her.

West Bengal advocate general Jayanta Mitra resigns citing differences with the Mamata Banerjee government.

Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday announced that Patidar quota stir leader Hardik Patel will be the party's face in Gujarat Assembly polls.

The state's 182 constituencies will go to polls later this year, with the Bharatiya Janata Party fighting anti-incumbency.

It is not surprising to see the Sena align with Hardik Patel, who was the face of the quota stir in 2015, as the party recently decided against forming an alliance with the BJP to contest Maharashtra civic polls.

Sena, however, continues to remain an alliance partner in the state and at Centre.

Interestingly, Patel, after coming out of jail, issued statements in support of Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal during his Gujarat visit. Patel also met Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar in Patna, where he hailed him as "the leader of 2019".

Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's reply to the Motion of Thanks on President's address in the Lok Sabha, the Congress on Tuesday said the former is addicted to one-liners, acronyms and jumlas.


"I am very sorry to hear this that no less than the Prime Minister of the world's second largest democracy and second most populous nation is addicted to one-liners, acronyms and jumlas. He cannot get rid of this addiction. He trivialises mild words in English language. He trivialises a natural calamity like an earthquake," Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi told ANI.


Escalating his attack on the Prime Minister, Singhvi said the former is frustrated and frightened especially after demonetisation."He is obviously frustrated and frightened especially after demonetisation that he sees Rahul Gandhi in earthquake. But this is not befitting a Prime Minister," he added.


The Congress spokesperson further said that the BJP is desperate and panicked.

Inspector General of Police, Bastar, has been absolved of rights violation.

Kalluri had been attached to the Raipur Police Headquarters following the charges levelled against him. He was charged of human rights excesses, mistreatment of journalists, researchers and activists. He had even issued hard orders against activities Nandini Sundar and Archana Vijay.

He could not appear before the commission due to his medical complications and was even referred to a hospital in Vishakhapatnam.

The Election Commission on Tuesday issued a notice to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar over his alleged bribery remark during campaigning in Goa. The EC said the CD containing his remarks was not tampered with in any manner. The election body has asked the Defence Minister to file his final reply by February 9. Parrikar has maintained his words were misinterpreted.


On January 29, while addressing a gathering in North Goa, Parrikar had reportedly said: "Now also someone will give you Rs 1,000 We give Rs 1,500 every month. After five years, 1,500 will become 90,000 and this will also increase."

"Today, take from anyone Rs 2,000 and vote for them There is no problem if somebody roams around by taking Rs 500 but just vote for the Lotus, he said in the speech which he spoke in Konkani."

The alleged assault on filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali and his crew on the sets of "Padmavati" figured in Rajya Sabha today with SP MP Jaya Bachchan saying the incident has threatened creativity. Raising the issue in the House during the Zero Hour, she said intolerance is growing in the country and a "select few" assume that they represent the masses, "under certain political patronage", and take law and order in their hands. They have no respect for constitutional values or the law of the land.


Bachchan said the film fraternity, which strives to bring fictional stories to people through creativity for the sole purpose of entertainment with some moral and social message, has been the "soft target for these anti-social elements".


"Sometime they are threatened, sometime films are not allowed be screened, sets are vandalised and sometimes it takes a violent turn as it happened in Jaipur recently.


"...Sets of Padmavati, where Rajput Karni Sena not only physically assaulted the Director, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, but also damaged the expensive film equipments," she said. Bhansali, she said, is a renowned director has made great films and added that he had also staged the "same subject of Padmavati" as an opera in a Paris theatre in 2008.


Bachchan further said neither the state government, nor the Centre has condemned the incident or taken action against the culprits. "What message are we sending to the film fraternity which is one of the most important and vibrant ambassador of the country. Creativity should not be subjected to such treatment," she said and demanded strong action against those involved in the incident. Bachchan said the film faternity has long been fighting the menace with little or no support from the government.

Tamil Nadu Governor C Vidyasagar Rao to reach Chennai by this evening or tomorrow. Sasikala, J Jayalalithaa's aide and friend, who has been chosen to be then next CM by the ruling AIADMK was to have been sworn in today. But Governor Rao, who is to administer the oath of office, is in Mumbai and has cancelled all his engagements in Tamil Nadu. Sources say he is against a "hasty swearing-in", and is consulting legal experts on whether Sasikala, who has never won any election and is politically inexperienced, can become Chief Minister at a time when the verdict against a corruption case is expected next week.

Jayalalithaa's niece Deepa to hold a press conference at 3 pm.

In Dantewada, Chhattisgarh, Maoists looted explosives and detonators from National Mineral Development Corp vehicles. They held employees hostage who have now been freed. 

The Congress reacts to PM Modi's statement in Parliament today, that "an earthquake finally took place - the Earth (Dharti Ma) was likely angered," taunting Rahul Gandhi for his earthquake remark. The Congress tweeted saying, "Using a natural calamity, like earthquake, to make a political point shows the depths to which he will descend to."

In November last year, Rahul Gandhi, leading the opposition's attack of the PM's sudden demonetisation drive, warned that when he spoke in parliament about the notes ban, "an earthquake will happen."

The Congress sent out a flurry of tweets while the PM spoke in Parliament targeting the scams in BJP ruled states.  "@narendramodi, please tell the country where the Rs 20,000 crore in the GPSC scam has disappeared. Where is the Rs 45000 crore in the mining scam in Rajasthan being hidden? Where has the Rs 36000 crore in the PDS rice scam in Chhattisgarh gone? Why was Vijay Mallya allowed to flee by giving him Rs 9000 crore. What happened in the Vyapam scam? How do we know black money is stored in Property, Gold, Forex? Because Congress Party leaders read Govt Reports. We wish you did the same. Maybe then the nation would have been spared the pain of Demonetisation."

Referring to the PM's remark: "My fight is for the poor and giving the poor their due. This fight will continue", the Congress tweeted, "PM, You stayed silent when Rahul Gandhi met you for farmers' demands! Please don't mislead the House. If you're honest, waive off farmers loans."

PM Modi spoke in parliament today after President Pranab Mukherjee presented the government's agenda at the start of the budget session. His speech stressed the power of India's democracy or Jan Shakti; he said it accounts for how "a tea-seller's son can rise to become Prime Minister."

Changes in MNREGA were made 1,035 times to suit requirements of the common man, says PM. What was the reason behind MNREGA going through changes 1,035 times? You must introspect on why you had to make so many changes. My fight is for the poor and this fight will continue.


Aaj badlav achanak nahi aaye hain; yojnabandh tareeke se laye ja rahe hain aur is disha mei bhagirth prayas kiye jaa rahe hain.

From Day 1, we have been ready for discussion on note ban but others were more keen on TV bytes instead of real debates.

Ye sarkaar bhrashtachaar ke khilaf ladai ladne wali sarkar hai, 17 mantralayon ki 84 yojnayein humne direct benefit transfer se jodaa. Mujhe maloom tha itni baareeki se har gali, mohalle se bhrashtachaar hataunga toh mujh par kya toofan tootega. Aise aise bade logon ko takleef ho rahi hai aur aage aur hone wali hai.

PM Modi on demonetisation: Every single thing on demonetization has been recorded. Everything is available to tax officials at their fingertips... it has cleansed India; and has ended the shadow economy.

Like Swachh Bharat, the decision on demonetisation is a movement to clean India (from corruption and black money).

Steps against black money were not sudden. The Supreme Court warned of large amounts of black money stashed abroad.

The very first day in Parliament after we came to power, we did what the Supreme Court had said, formulate the SIT.

Courts cannot lay down moral guidelines for citizens, says Supreme Court, and cannot issue guidelines to regulate individuals, about the plea against jokes on Sikhs.    

Just In: Supreme Court allows 22-yr-old Mumbai-based woman to terminate her 24-week pregnancy. In taking this decision apex court relies on Mumbai's KEM Hospital medical board report saying the foetus suffers from disorders, and continuation of pregnancy would endanger mother's life.

India generally cooperated with multilateral efforts to use UN-mandated sanctions to achieve a nuclear agreement with Iran, a bipartisan Congressional report has said as the Trump Administration gears up to muster international support against Tehran. 

Just in: Two months after J Jayalalithaa's death, AIADMK leader Paul Hector Pandian reveals the late TN CM died after being pushed at her Poes Garden residence after a tiff.

Pandian's explosive claim gives voice to these very rumours since Jayalalithaa's death.

Pandian says Jayalalithaa was taken to hospital to avoid suspicion. He added that Sasikala tried to betray her and did not grieve her death.


The AIADMK reacted saying these were all assumptions. "Pandian is trying to gain cheap publicity out of this cheap politics," says AIADMK leader Apsara Reddy.


Saying Sasikala's conduct must be probed, Pandian added that his next plan of action will be made public on February 24, Jayalalithaa's birthday at her memorial on Marina Beach.


Just yesterday, in a bid to dispel rumours surrounding Jayalalithaa's health, Dr. Richard Beale, the UK-based intensivist, who was treating the late Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, on Monday, addressed a press conference in Chennai. He was accompanied by Dr Balaji, a government doctor, Dr Babu Abraham, Critical Care Consultant, Apollo Hospitals and Dr Sudha Seshaiyyan, who performed embalming on Jayalalithaa's body.


Jayalalithaa had come to hospital with sepsis and was conscious, Dr. Beale told reporters adding that she had co-morbidities and uncontrolled diabetes.
Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that arises when the body's response to infection injures its own tissues and organs.

Pakistan has pledged to oppose any attempt to undermine China's sovereignty following talks between a visiting senior Chinese official and Pakistani authorities.

The Chinese State Commissioner for counter terrorism and security, Cheng Guoping, who is on a three-day visit to Pakistan met Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's Special Assistant on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi and National Security Adviser Lt. General (Retd.) Naseer Khan Janjua, reports the Express Tribune.


According to a statement from the Foreign Office, Fatemi and the Chinese State Commissioner reviewed all aspects of bilateral relationship, with a special focus on security, economic development and China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).


"Both sides noted that the all-weather friendship between the two countries has withstood the test of time, notwithstanding changes in the international, regional and domestic environments," the Foreign Office said.


Noting the importance of CPEC for the economic development of Pakistan, the two sides stressed that timely completion of the corridor's projects.

J&K: BSF guns down an infiltrator in Pathankot's Bamial sector.

New Zealand's Prime Minister Bill English said today he told President Donald Trump during a phone call that he disagreed with his travel and refugee ban but that the conversation remained amicable.


Last week Trump had a testy exchange with Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull over a deal Australia reached with the Obama administration to resettle refugees in the US Trump later tweeted that the deal was "dumb."


By contrast, English told Radio New Zealand that his 15-minute call with Trump on Monday was a "sensible, polite discussion" that affirmed the good relationship between the countries.


English said he told Trump he disagreed with the contested travel ban but didn't berate him over it. "I'm not there to scold him, although a lot of people might like us to do that," English said.

Several valuable items, including replica of a Nobel Prize, were stolen from Nobel Laureate says Kailash Satyarthi's home in Delhi's Greater Kailash. Reports also say his Nobel citation has been stolen.


Kailash Satyarthi, a children's rights and education activist and the founder of the Bachpan Bachao Andolan won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, which he shared with Pakistan's Malala Yousafzai.  


And this is not the first Nobel thieft. The Nobel medal and the citation, won by Rabindranath Tagore in 1913, were stolen from Visva Bharati University's museum in West Bengal.

The CBI had taken over the case soon after, but failed to recover it and closed the case in 2007. However, under political pressure, the case was reopened in 2008 and closed again in 2009.

Last year, a 'baul' singer was arrested for his alleged involvement in the theft, but a probe proved inconclusive. 

The finance ministry has warned employees of disciplinary action if they criticize the government or its policies. The directive assumes significance as associations representing employees of Central Board of Excise and Customs  are protesting against certain decisions taken by the GST Council led by finance minister Arun Jaitley on Goods and Services Tax.

Jackie Kennedy-inspired video essay charts the course of First Ladies from Kennedy to Trump. Watch

The Delhi Police have arrested a 40-yr old convicted serial rapist for allegedly abducting and molesting a four-year old girl near Vijay Vihar in Rohini. The paedophile, identified as Naresh was held yesterday at around 11.12 am when he tried to kidnap the girl, who was playing next to her mother.


The mother of the girl informed the police that her minor daughter was playing by her side. When she saw that a man is trying to abduct her daughter, she raised an alarm following which the neighbours caught the accused and made a PCR Call.

"A PCR call was received at Police Station Vijay Vihar regarding kidnapping of a minor girl by a man following which the police reached the spot," said police. An FIR has been registered against the accused under relevant sections of kidnapping and POCSO Act.

Tamil Nadu governor Vidyasagar Rao still in Mumbai, will not be going to Chennai: Sources

The real reason why VK Sasikala will not be sworn in as Tamil Nadu CM today.

Governor C Vidyasagar Rao, who is to administer the oath of office, is in Mumbai and has cancelled all his engagements in Tamil Nadu. He will not be returning to Chennai either today or tomorrow and reports say he is not in favour of a hasty swearing-in.


VK Sasikala, the long-time friend of J Jayalalithaa chosen by the AIADMK to take over as Chief Minister, was supposed to have been sworn in at 8:30 am today.


Sources say that the governor has consulted legal experts on whether Sasikala, who has never won any election and is a political novice can become chief minister, especially since the verdict in the disproportionate assets case against her and Jayalalithaa is expected next week.


The Supreme Court has been petitioned to stop Sasikala taking office till she absolved in the case.

NDTV reports that the governor, who attended the wedding reception of Union Minister Prakash Javadekar's son in Delhi, had a one-on-one meeting with Home Minister Rajnath Singh.

The central government is believed to be concerned about the political developments in Tamil Nadu. Public unease over Sasikala's promotion has been reflected on social media in viral hashtags and memes.

Ahead of change of guard in Tamil Nadu, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, in a bid to prevent Sasikala Natarajan from becoming the next chief minister, has sought the Centre's intervention. DMK leader MK Stalin will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday.

- 5.8 magnitude quake strikes U'khand, tremors felt in north India